Ranger Leader Leo Gungulo

What made you want to become a ranger?

I was inspired to help communities to preserve biodiversity and especially endangered species.

Describe a typical day in your life?

My role encompasses marine ecological research, training and mentorship of community rangers and various forms of relationship building. On a typical day, I spend time engaging with community members and fishermen on our conservation activities. I also go out with our teams to monitor reefs and Marine Protected Areas (MPA).

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy fieldwork the most. Especially being out at sea for MPA patrols and scuba diving for marine research work.

What is your biggest success to date?

Teaching has been my biggest success. As a Master Scuba Diving Trainer, many of my students have made such a huge difference in society and conservation, which makes me happy.

What is the biggest challenge you face in your work?

My greatest challenge is dealing with poachers and illegal fishermen in our protected areas. We work as monitors and educators rather than as enforcement agents which can be limiting in how effective we can be with respect to poachers and illegal fishermen.

Over and above the significant operational stresses presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, at the sites where I work, the escalation of insurgency activity in Northern Mozambique has made ongoing conservation activities almost impossible.

What would you like the world to know about rangers?

I would like the world to recognise the important role that marine rangers play to protect biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas, and for their efforts to be recognised worldwide.

What would you like to see change for African rangers?

I would like to see African rangers receive more recognition for their work. I would also like to see more marine rangers involved in broader ranger networks, and working as one alongside land-based rangers.

As a participant in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, how would you say it has impacted you and your team?

The knowledge exchange and experience of interacting with both marine and terrestrial rangers through the Wildlife Ranger Challenge has been very valuable. Being part of the challenge has increased my team members’ belief in what we do and inspired us to think of ways we can improve through all the support we receive from the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.

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Leo Gungulo

Credit: Peter Chadwick Bottom

The Africa Foundation Benguerra Marine team on the Wildlife Ranger Challenge race day

Credit: Oceans without Borders

Together we can do even more to advance conservation in Africa.